14-3-2019 CAMI LES FONTS OLIVA, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

The Mallard, or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos), is a familiar and widespread dabbling duck with a presence across temperate and subtropical regions of the Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has also been introduced to parts of the Southern Hemisphere. The male is renowned for its iridescent green head and white collar, while the female sports a brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes boast a speculum—a patch of feathers with iridescent purple or blue hues bordered by white. The Mallard's length ranges from 50 to 65 cm, with a wingspan of 81 to 98 cm, and it typically weighs between 0.7 and 1.6 kg.

Males during the breeding season are unmistakable with their glossy green heads, white collars, and purple-tinged brown breasts. Females are mottled brown with buff cheeks and an eye-stripe. Both sexes have the distinctive speculum on their wings. The male's bill is yellowish-orange tipped with black, while the female's is darker, ranging from black to mottled orange and brown.

Mallards are found in a variety of wetlands, including parks, small ponds, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. They prefer water depths less than 0.9 meters and are drawn to areas with aquatic vegetation.

This species is distributed across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, from Alaska to Mexico, the Hawaiian Islands, across the Palearctic, and down to southeastern and southwestern Australia and New Zealand.

13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - GREY LEAVED CISTUS (Cistus albidus)

Cistus albidus, the grey-leaved cistus, is a shrubby species of flowering plant in the family Cistaceae, with pink to purple flowers, native to south-western Europe and western north Africa.

Cistus albidus grows up to 1 m (3 ft) tall. Its leaves are oblong to elliptical in shape, usually 2–5 cm (0.8–2.0 in) long by 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) wide. They have three prominent veins and are densely covered with short hairs, producing a greyish-white appearance. The flowers are arranged in cymes of one to seven individual flowers, each 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) across with five purple to pink petals and five sepals.

Cistus albidus is native to the west of Southern Europe and western North Africa, particularly around the Mediterranean, including Portugal, Spain, the Balearic Islands, France, Corsica, Italy, Sardinia, and Morocco.

13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - MOUNTAIN SANDWORT (Arenaria montana)

Arenaria montana, the mountain sandwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to mountainous regions of southwestern Europe, from the Pyrenees to Portugal. The Latin specific epithet montana refers to mountains or coming from mountains.

Arenaria montana is an evergreen perennial growing 14–22 cm (6–9 in) tall, with lanceolate or ovate green to grayish-green opposite leaves 10–30 mm (0.4–1.2 in) in length.

From mid to late Spring it produces dense clumps of white to near-white flowers approximately 25 mm (1 in) in diameter borne on cymes of 2 to 10 flowers each.

Arenaria montana prefers well drained, sandy to sandy loam soils, of moderate (pH 5.5 to 7.5) acidity. It also prefers moist soils, as its shallow root system leaves it vulnerable to drought.

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - ONION LEAFED ASPHODEL (Asphodelus fistulosus)

Asphodelus fistulosus is a species of plant known as hollow-stemmed asphodel, onionweed, onion-leafed asphodel, and pink asphodel. It is native to the Mediterranean region as well as the Arabian Peninsula, Transcaucasus, and Madeira.

It is an invasive exotic weed in the United States, with significant infestations in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed by the United States Department of Agriculture. It is also a common weed in parts of Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico, and it thrives in any area with a Mediterranean climate.

It is an annual or short-lived perennial herb growing a hollow stem up to 70 cm (28 in) tall. The root system has a series of tuber-like parts at the base of the stem. The plant takes the form of a large tuft of onion-like rounded hollow leaves up to 30 cm (12 in) long. The inflorescence is a panicle with widely spaced flowers. Each flower is 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide with six tepals which are generally white or very pale pink with a neat central longitudinal stripe of brown to reddish-purple. The flowers are diurnal, closing at night and in overcast or low-light weather conditions. The fruit is a rounded capsule containing six seeds.

13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - HENBIT DEADNETTLE (Lamium amplexicaule)

Lamium amplexicaule, commonly known as henbit dead-nettle, is a species of Lamium native to most of Europe, Asia and northern Africa. The specific name refers to the leaves, which are amplexicaul (clasping the stem).

It is a low-growing annual plant growing to 10–25 cm (4–10 in) (rarely to 40 cm) tall, thinly pubescent with soft, finely hairy stems. The leaves are opposite, rounded to kidney-shaped, 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄4 in) diameter, with a lobed margin, and often with long internodes. The lower leaves are stalked and the upper ones stalkless, often fused, and clasping the stems. The flowers are pink to purple, relatively large, 1.5–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) long, and form a few-flowered terminal spike with axillary whorls. The calyx is regular with five lobes and closes up after flowering. The corolla is purplish-red, fused into a usually erect tube 15 to 20 mm (1⁄2 to 3⁄4 in) long. The upper lip is convex, 3 to 5 mm (1⁄8 to 3⁄16 in) long and the lower lip has three lobes, two small side ones and a larger central one 1.5 to 2.5 mm (1⁄16 to 1⁄8 in) long. There are four stamens, two long and two short. The gynoecium has two fused carpels and the fruit is a four-chambered schizocarp.

This plant flowers very early in the spring even in northern areas, and for most of the winter and early spring in warmer locations such as the Mediterranean region. At times of year when there are not many pollinating insects, the flowers self-pollinate.

13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - WILD CLARY (Salvia verbenaca)

Salvia verbenaca, also known as wild clary or wild sage, is native to the British Isles, the Mediterranean region in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Near East, and in the Caucasus. It can be found as an introduced species that has naturalized in many parts of the world, including the Eastern United States, California, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Southern Africa, Tasmania, New Zealand and China.

S. verbenaca is a tall perennial herb with hairy stems and branches that erectly sprawl out. Its leaves are basal and toothed that vary from 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in) long. It has soft purple to violet flowers in mid summer. It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from July to October. The flowers are bisexual and are pollinated by bees. Some are also cleistogamous and pollinate themselves.

The plant is noted for attracting pollinators and wildlife. It prefers neutral and alkaline soils and needs full sun. This aromatic sage is used as a flavoring in foods and to make tea; the flowers can be added to salads.

In China, where it has been known by the synonym Salvia weihaiensis, it grows along the seashore in Shandong province.

13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - RED STRIPED OIL BEETLE (Berberomeloe majalis)

It has a typical length around 5 cm (2 in.). Its large size and the bright red bands around its body make it unmistakable; its coloration is aposematic, reflecting its ability, in common with other oil or blister beetles in the family Meloidae, to squirt a caustic liquid if attacked. In Spain however this beetle varies extensively in color. Populations of entirely black specimens without any red markings are found scattered over much of the distribution range of B. majalis. These populations are often found close to populations consisting of red-striped specimens, but both morphs seem to be spatially segregated and no mixed series have been found in the field. Entirely black and red-striped specimens of Berberomeloe majalis are equally poisonous.

The red-striped oil beetle is found in dry places in Portugal and the Mediterranean regions of Spain and North Africa, from Morocco to Tunisia. They live in sunny, dry places, either in open grassland in woodland with light tree cover. They can be found from sea level to altitudes as high as 3000 m in the Sierra Nevada.

The imago lives on pollen. The larvae are exclusively parasitic, mainly living in the nests of solitary wild bees. The female lays between 2000 and 10000 eggs, but most of these fail to reach maturity either for lack of food or through predation. In contrast with the adult, the larvae are only about 3 mm long, and their development proceeds through hypermetamorphosis. The various larval stages are therefore of different forms. Unlike the larvae of beetles of the genus Meloe, the first stage larva does not cling on to a potential host, but has to actively seek a host out. Once the larva has consumed the egg and stored nectar and pollen from a bee's nest, they leave it. They then moult again, and emerge with their back legs formed. From this stage they pupate, and emerge from the chrysalis as adults. If a larva accidentally selects a honey bee as host, it dies in the hive.

13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - SMALL COPPER BUTTERFLY (Lycaena phlaeas)

The Small Copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas) is a fast, bright orange butterfly with dark spots, found in sunny spots like heathlands; males are territorial, feeding adults on nectar (ragwort/thistle) while caterpillars eat sorrel, often having 3 broods a year, and surprisingly, its larger cousin, the Large Copper, went extinct in the UK, making the Small Copper significant. 

Appearance & Behavior

Color: Bright copper-orange forewings with black spots and margins, dark hindwings with orange bands.

Size: Small, fast-flying.

Male Behavior: Territorial, basking on bare ground to attract females, chasing off other insects. 

Habitat & Food

Habitat: Dry, sunny places like heathland, woodland edges, waste ground, downland.

Adult Food: Nectar from ragwort, thistles.

Caterpillar Food: Common sorrel, sheep's sorrel. 

11-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GEOMETER MOTH (Family Geometridae)

Geometer moths (Family Geometridae) are a huge moth family known for their "inchworm" caterpillars (loopers) that "measure" by looping their bodies due to few mid-body legs, earning them their name meaning "earth-measurers". Adults are small-to-medium, often camouflaged with slender bodies and broad wings, some with wingless females, and they include important pests and species used in genetic study (like the Peppered Moth). They are found globally in diverse habitats, with larvae primarily eating leaves of woody plants. 

12-3-2019 OLIVA, VALENCIA - SCARLET PIMPERNEL (Lysimachia arvensis)

Lysimachia arvensis, syn. Anagallis arvensis, commonly known as scarlet pimpernel, red pimpernel, red chickweed, poor man's barometer, poor man's weather-glass, shepherd's weather glass or shepherd's clock, is a species of low-growing annual plant with brightly coloured flowers, most often scarlet but also bright blue and sometimes pink. The native range of the species is Europe and Western Asia and North Africa. The species has been distributed widely by humans, either deliberately as an ornamental flower or accidentally. L. arvensis is now naturalised almost worldwide, with a range that encompasses the Americas, Central and East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Malesia, the Pacific Islands, Australasia and Southern Africa.

This common European plant is generally considered a weed and is an indicator of light soils, though it grows opportunistically in clay soils as well. The origin of the name pimpernel comes from late Middle English pympernele [1400–50], derived from Middle French pimprenelle, from Old French piprenelle, and ultimately from Vulgar Latin *piperīnella (piper 'pepper' + -īn- '-ine' + -ella diminutive suffix).

The flower serves as the emblem of the fictional hero the Scarlet Pimpernel.

12-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WHITE RAMPING FURNITORY (Fumaria capreolata)

Fumaria capreolata, the white ramping fumitory or climbing fumitory, is an herbaceous annual plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa and naturalised in southern Australia, New Zealand, and southern South America. Common names include also ramping fumitory, white fumitory, and white-flower fumitory.

Plants have stems to 1 metre long and sometimes climb. The leaves are pinnatisect. Inflorescences comprise up to 20 purple-tipped white to cream flowers that appear in spring and summer. These gradually become pink after pollination.

Unlike other Fumaria species which are known as weeds of crops and agricultural areas, Fumaria capreolata can become naturalised in areas of natural vegetation and smother low-growing plants, becoming an environmental weed.

12-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - FRUIT CHAFER (Subfamily Cetoniinae)

Flower chafers are a group of scarab beetles comprising the subfamily Cetoniinae. Many species are diurnal and visit flowers for pollen and nectar or to browse on the petals. Some species also feed on fruit. The group is also called fruit and flower chafers, flower beetles, and flower scarabs. Around 4,000 species are known, but many of them are still undescribed.

Ten tribes currently are recognized: Cetoniini, Cremastocheilini, Diplognathini, Goliathini, Gymnetini, Phaedimini, Schizorhinini, Stenotarsiini, Taenioderini, and Xiphoscelidini. The former tribes Trichiini and Valgini were elevated in rank to subfamily. The tribe Gymnetini has the most species of the American tribes, and Goliathini contains the largest species and is mainly found in the rainforest regions of Africa.

29-11-2016 GARDENS OF THE BAY, SINGAPORE - THATCH SCREWPINE (Pandanus tectorius)

Pandanus tectorius is a species of Pandanus (screwpine) that is native to Malesia, Papuasia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It grows in the coastal lowlands typically near the edge of the ocean. Common names in English include thatch screwpine, Tahitian screwpine, hala tree (pū hala in Hawaiian) and pandanus. The fruit is edible and sometimes known as hala fruit.

P. tectorius is a small tree that grows upright to reach 4–14 m (13–46 ft) in height. The single trunk is slender with brown ringed bark. It is spiny, grows to 4.5–11 m (15–35 ft) in width, and forks at a height of 4–8 metres (13–26 ft). It is supported by aerial roots (prop roots) that firmly anchors the tree to the ground. Roots sometimes grow along the branch, and they grow at wide angles in proportion to the trunk.

The female P. tectorius trees produce a segmented, large fruit. Although not closely related, the fruit resembles a pineapple. The fruit of P. tectorius is either ovoid, ellipsoid, subglobose or globose with a diameter of 4–20 cm (1.6–7.9 in) and a length of 8–30 cm (3.1–11.8 in). The fruit is made up of 38–200 wedge-like phalanges, often referred to as keys or carpels, which have an outer fibrous husk and are 8 inches in length. There are roughly 40 to 80 keys in each fruit and the color of the fruit can be yellow, orange, or red with a green top. Phalanges contain two seeds on average, with a maximum of eight reported. The phalanges are buoyant, and the seeds within them can remain viable for many months while being transported by ocean currents.

3-11-2016 BAIDICHENG, CHINA - GREEN BACKED TIT (Parus monticolus)

The green-backed tit (Parus monticolus) is a species of bird in the family Paridae.

It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Its natural habitats are boreal forest, temperate forest, and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

Colorful small songbird of foothill and montane forests (up to 2800 m). Similar to Japanese Tit in appearance but with a bright yellow belly, greenish back, and two narrow white wingbars rather than one broad one. Forages at middle and upper levels in forests, often in pairs or as part of mixed-species flocks. Song a series of 3-4 whistles. Calls infrequently, a gruff “deedeedee.”

3-11-2016 BAIDICHENG, CHINA - BROWN BREASTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous)

The brown-breasted bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous ) is a songbird in the family Pycnonotidae. The species was first described by John Anderson in 1869.

A large dull bulbul of scrubby forest edges, farmland, and parks. Brown overall, with a black cap and white throat; a light brown wash on the chest contrasts with the otherwise pale breast and belly, giving it a “vested” appearance. Dull orange undertail feathers are essentially the only bright spot on this species. Can resemble juvenile Sooty-headed Bulbul, but lacks the white cheek and rump of that species. Song consists of short but rich warbled phrases, and is a common background sound in cities and towns. Calls include liquid chirrups and harsher churring calls.

It is found in south-eastern Asia from central and southern China to Myanmar and northern Thailand.

The brown-breasted bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous) is a songbird in the family Pycnonotidae. The species was first described by John Anderson in 1869.

Alternate names for the brown-breasted bulbul include Anderson's bulbul and yellow-vented bulbul (not to be confused with the species of the same name, Pycnonotus goiavier).

Two subspecies are recognized:

P. x. xanthorrhous - Anderson, 1869: Found from south-western China and northern Myanmar to northern Indochina

P. x. andersoni - (R. Swinhoe, 1870): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Ixos. Found in central and southern China

It eats fruit, including Camellia japonica.

13-11-2016 BAIDICHENG, CHINA - BLACK THROATED TIT (Aegithalos concinnus)

In older sources, "black-throated tit" can also mean the rufous-naped tit or the rufous-vented tit, which are true tits.

The black-throated bushtit (Aegithalos concinnus), also known as the black-throated tit, is a very small passerine bird in the family Aegithalidae.

It ranges from the foothills of the Himalayas, stretching across northern India through north-eastern Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, northern Myanmar, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Disjunct populations also occur in southern Vietnam, the island of Hainan and further north in China up to the Yellow River. It lives in open broadleaf forest as well as pine forest, generally occurring in middle altitudes.

11-3-2019 VAL D'EBO, VALENCIA - CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Colias croceus)

Colias croceus, clouded yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, the yellows and whites.

Colias croceus is one of the most widespread species in Europe. The common clouded yellow's breeding range is North Africa and southern Europe and eastwards through Turkey into the Middle East, but it occurs throughout much of Europe as a summer migrant, in good years individuals reaching Scandinavia. In Asia, its range extends into central Siberia in the north and barely into India in the south; it is not found in Central Asia.

This species is primarily an immigrant to the UK, originating from southern Europe and northern Africa. In the UK they can be seen on the south coast almost every year in varying numbers, and regularly breed there. Occurrence in the rest of the UK varies considerably from year to year, but they are increasingly observed as far north as Dumfries and Galloway. It has also been recorded in Ireland from the Raven, Co. Wexford, to Belfast, Co. Down.

A truly migratory European butterfly, this species is famous for occasional mass migrations and subsequent breeding, which are often referred to in the United Kingdom as "clouded yellow years". Notable clouded yellow years include 1877, 1947, 1983, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2000.

11-3-2019 VAL D'EBO, VALENCIA - SPANISH FESTOON BUTTERFLY (Zerynthia rumina)

Zerynthia rumina, the Spanish festoon, is a butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. It is a widespread species in Iberia and frequents most habitats.

North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and southern France.

Zerynthia rumina is an extremely striking species. In south east France it can be confused with the southern festoon (Zerynthia polyxena). The two can be told apart by the presence of blue on the hindwing of the southern festoon. The Spanish festoon also has extensive red on the forewings.

The Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) is a striking springtime butterfly in Southern Europe/North Africa, known for its bright yellow, black, and red patterns, feeding on Birthwort (Aristolochia) plants, which makes it unpalatable to predators, with males being territorial and flying low in sunny, scrubby habitats from March to June, laying eggs singly on host plants. 

Key Facts

Appearance: Features vibrant yellow, black, and red markings, with a unique "dazzle" pattern for predator confusion; wings often held wide open at rest.

Diet: Caterpillars feed exclusively on Aristolochia (Birthwort) plants, making them toxic to predators, a trait retained into adulthood.

The Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) is a striking springtime butterfly in Southern Europe/North Africa, known for its bright yellow, black, and red patterns, feeding on Birthwort (Aristolochia) plants, which makes it unpalatable to predators, with males being territorial and flying low in sunny, scrubby habitats from March to June, laying eggs singly on host plants. 

Key Facts

Appearance: Features vibrant yellow, black, and red markings, with a unique "dazzle" pattern for predator confusion; wings often held wide open at rest.

Diet: Caterpillars feed exclusively on Aristolochia (Birthwort) plants, making them toxic to predators, a trait retained into adulthood.

Habitat: Prefers dry, stony, scrubby grasslands and woodland edges in the Iberian Peninsula, Southern France, and North Africa.

Flight: A single brood flies in spring (March-June); adults are active for only a few weeks, flying low and erratically.

Behavior: Males are territorial, patrolling for females; after mating, females lay eggs singly on host plants.

Identification: Easily distinguished from the similar Southern Festoon by its strong red markings on the forewings, notes euroButterflies.com. 

Life Cycle & Habits

Eggs: Laid singly on birthwort, turning bluish before hatching.

Caterpillars: Feed on birthwort flowers and leaves, becoming spiny and toxic.

Pupation: Overwinters as a chrysalis, attached to a support.

Adults: Feed on nectar from lavenders and thymes but focus on reproduction; their short lifespan means females lay eggs quickly. 

11-3-2019 VAL D'EBO, VALENCIA - GREY LEAVED CISTUS (Cistus albidus)

Cistus albidus, the grey-leaved cistus, is a shrubby species of flowering plant in the family Cistaceae, with pink to purple flowers, native to south-western Europe and western north Africa.

Cistus albidus grows up to 1 m (3 ft) tall. Its leaves are oblong to elliptical in shape, usually 2–5 cm (0.8–2.0 in) long by 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) wide. They have three prominent veins and are densely covered with short hairs, producing a greyish-white appearance. The flowers are arranged in cymes of one to seven individual flowers, each 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) across with five purple to pink petals and five sepals.

Cistus albidus is native to the west of Southern Europe and western North Africa, particularly around the Mediterranean, including Portugal, Spain, the Balearic Islands, France, Corsica, Italy, Sardinia, and Morocco.

11-3-2019 VAL D'EBO, VALENCIA - IBERIAN KNAPWEED (Centaurea pullata)

Iberian knapweed, also known as Iberian starthistle (Centaurea iberica), is a flowering plant known primarily as a noxious and invasive weed in many parts of the world, despite being native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. 

Key Facts

Appearance: The plant is an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial that grows up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall with highly branched stems.

Flowers: Flower heads are typically white, pink, or purple and resemble thistles.

Spines: A key characteristic is the "star" of stout, sharp spines (1–3 cm long) that surround the base of each flower head, which makes the plant unpalatable to grazing animals.

Leaves/Stems: Stems and leaves are covered with fine, white hairs. The lower leaves are deeply lobed, while the upper leaves are smaller and more linear.

Habitat: It grows well in disturbed, open areas like fields, roadsides, and rangelands. It is drought-tolerant and can grow in a variety of soil types, including nutritionally poor or dry soils.

Reproduction: It reproduces prolifically by seed, with seeds dispersed by wind, animals, or human activity (e.g., in hay or on equipment).

Invasive Impact: In areas where it has been introduced (such as parts of the United States, Argentina, and Australia), it is considered a noxious weed. It forms dense, impenetrable stands that displace valuable native forage, reduce land value, and discourage wildlife movement. 

Status as a Noxious Weed

Iberian knapweed is listed on prohibited or noxious weed lists in several regions, including: 

United States: It is a Class A noxious weed in California and Oregon, and a prohibited noxious weed in Arizona, Nevada, and Wyoming.

Canada: It is a prohibited noxious weed seed in the Canadian Weed Seeds Order.

Other Countries: It is on prohibited weed lists in Chile and Australia. 

Control efforts in North America have focused on early detection and rapid response (EDRR) to prevent its establishment and spread. 

31-10-2016 XIAN, CHINA - YELLOWS AND SULPHURS BUTTERFLY (Colias poliographus)

Colias poliographus is a species of insects with 1761 observations

31-10-2016 XIAN, CHINA - PARADOXICAL KEELED MILLIPEDES (Family Paradoxosomatidae)

Orthomorpha is a genus of millipedes in the family Paradoxosomatidae containing approximately 50 species distributed in Southeast Asia.

Species of Orthomorpha possess 20 body segments and range from 15–50 mm long as adults. They range from 1.1–3.1 mm in body width, with prominent paranota (lateral keels) extending the width to 1.5–6.7 mm. Base coloration varies from brown to black, with brightly colored paranota and markings in various shades of yellow, orange, and brown, which becomes fainter in alcohol-preserved specimens. Some species have prominent bumps or "tubercles" on their dorsal metatergal segments.

Orthomorpha species range from Myanmar in the west, through the entire Indochinese Peninsula, to Lombok, Indonesia. The species O. coarctata, (also known as Asiomorpha coarctata) has been widely introduced by humans in tropics around the world.

26-11-2016 YANGON, MYANMAR - EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer montanus)

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a passerine bird in the sparrow family with a rich chestnut crown and nape, and a black patch on each pure white cheek. The sexes are similarly plumaged, and young birds are a duller version of the adult. This sparrow breeds over most of temperate Eurasia and Southeast Asia, where it is known as the tree sparrow, and it has been introduced elsewhere including the United States, where it is known as the Eurasian tree sparrow or German sparrow to differentiate it from the native unrelated American tree sparrow. Although several subspecies are recognised, the appearance of this bird varies little across its extensive range.

The Eurasian tree sparrow's untidy nest is built in a natural cavity, a hole in a building or the disused nest of a European magpie or white stork. The typical clutch is five or six eggs which hatch in under two weeks. This sparrow feeds mainly on seeds, but invertebrates are also consumed, particularly during the breeding season. As with other small birds, infection by parasites and diseases, and predation by birds of prey take their toll, and the typical life span is about two years.

10-3-2019 ADOR CAMPO, VALENCIA - WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small, elegant passerine bird, a member of the family Motacillidae, which includes pipits and longclaws. This slender bird measures between 16.5 to 19 cm in length, with East Asian subspecies reaching up to 21 cm. It is characterized by its long, constantly wagging tail, a behavior that has become synonymous with the genus. Weighing an average of 25 g, the White Wagtail can live up to 12 years in the wild.

Adult White Wagtails exhibit a distinctive plumage with a combination of grey, black, and white. The bird's upper parts are generally grey, with a white face, belly, and breast. Males during the breeding season may show a darker back, and the species is known for its sharp, brisk call and more melodious song during courtship.

The White Wagtail is commonly found in open country, often in close proximity to human habitation and water sources. It shows a preference for bare areas which facilitate the sighting and pursuit of prey. This bird has adapted well to urban environments, utilizing paved areas such as parking lots for foraging.

This species has a vast breeding range across Europe, the Asian Palearctic, parts of North Africa, and has a presence in Alaska. It is a migratory bird, with populations moving to Africa and parts of Asia during the winter. In Great Britain and Ireland, the darker subspecies known as the Pied Wagtail is more prevalent.

The White Wagtail is known for its perpetual tail wagging, a behavior that remains somewhat enigmatic but is thought to be a signal of vigilance to predators. It is a monogamous bird that defends its breeding territory with determination.

The call of the White Wagtail is a sharp "chisick," softer than that of the Pied Wagtail. Its song is more structured and is used by males to attract females rather than to mark territory.

White Wagtails are monogamous breeders, with both sexes contributing to nest building. The nest is often placed in crevices or holes near water or in human-made structures. The species lays three to eight cream-colored, speckled eggs, which both parents incubate. Chicks fledge after 12 to 15 days and continue to be fed for a week thereafter.

The diet of the White Wagtail primarily consists of insects and small invertebrates, including beetles, dragonflies, flies, and crustaceans. It continues to feed on insects even in winter, unlike many other insectivorous birds in temperate climates.

10-3-2019 ADOR CAMPO, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN SERIN (Serinus serinus)

The European serin, or simply the serin (Serinus serinus), is a diminutive member of the finch family, Fringillidae. This sprightly bird is the smallest within its family, closely related to the Atlantic canary. It is characterized by its short tail and a length that spans a mere 11 to 12 centimeters. The serin's plumage is a tapestry of nature's palette, with upper parts dappled in dark-streaked greyish green and a conspicuous yellow rump. The underparts are a canvas of yellow breast and white belly, both adorned with heavy streaks.

When attempting to identify the European serin, look for the male's radiant yellow face and breast, which stand out against the greenish backdrop of its feathers. The male also boasts yellow wing bars and yellow tail sides, which can be quite helpful in distinguishing it from similar species. Both sexes share a buzzing trill of a song that resonates through their Mediterranean habitats.

The European serin is partial to open woodland and cultivated areas, often with a sprinkling of conifers. These environments provide the perfect backdrop for breeding and foraging.

This species has a breeding range that extends across southern and central Europe and into North Africa. Populations along the southern and Atlantic coasts tend to be resident, while those in the north are migratory, seeking warmer climates in southern Europe during the winter months.

Outside of the breeding season, the European serin is a sociable creature, forming flocks that may sometimes mingle with other finch species. It is an active and often conspicuous bird, its presence easily announced by its distinctive trill.

The serin's song is a distinctive buzzing trill, a sound that becomes part of the ambient music in regions where these birds are common.

The European serin weaves its nest within the shelter of a shrub or tree, where it lays a clutch of 3 to 5 eggs. The chosen breeding habitats are often areas of open woodland and cultivation, with a preference for some conifers.

The diet of the European serin is predominantly seeds, but it does not shy away from including insects during the breeding season, providing essential protein for its young.